Gaining An R.A.F Pilots Brevet In WW II
I guess that there would have been a demand in the civilian world for Cranwell educated Royal Air Force aircrew of your age.
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which refers to the Meteor accidents.
As a boy he had dreamt of becoming a pilot. He volunteered to fly in 1944 as soon as he reached 18 and was one of those who braved a high accident rate among those pilots flying early jet fighter aircraft, such as the Gloster Meteor. “Places like [the training establishment at] Driffield were a Meteor bloodbath,” he noted. “At Worksop, where I instructed, we counted on one fatality a month . . . when 43 Squadron converted to the first Hunters we had six serious crashes, including fatalities, in the first six months.”
Last edited by roving; 11th Nov 2017 at 09:57. Reason: SYNTAX
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This is the shorter of two of videos about the 1957 Valetta crash I posted about yesterday.
Both created by Norman Doctor, a National Service Soldier posted to KL as a Despatcher. He would have been on the flight save that he had been sent to Changi for training.
Both created by Norman Doctor, a National Service Soldier posted to KL as a Despatcher. He would have been on the flight save that he had been sent to Changi for training.
My late father, who served in the RAF 1936-1962, deeply regretted the treatment of Bomber Command after WW2. He maintained that the 55,000-plus lives lost were never acknowledged by many of the self-serving politicians of post-war years, still less by the PC brigade of more recent times.
So I was saddened to see that ex-Lancaster navigator Jim Wright, who flew in 43 wartime raids and won the DFC, says that at 95 he can no longer continue his campaign to recognise the sacrifices of Bomber Command. He has failing vision and struggles to use a computer to send the emails required to keep the campaign going.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...8bc6c70f4f79b8
So I was saddened to see that ex-Lancaster navigator Jim Wright, who flew in 43 wartime raids and won the DFC, says that at 95 he can no longer continue his campaign to recognise the sacrifices of Bomber Command. He has failing vision and struggles to use a computer to send the emails required to keep the campaign going.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/r...8bc6c70f4f79b8
I blame the RAF High Command. We had to wait 57 years for a national memorial to be erected to Bomber Command for its long and hard fought campaign, and that thanks primarily to Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees pressing hard for it. No such problem with the BoB Memorials, far more uncontroversial of course...
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I've just heard that the sad news that Aline Dumon, aka "Michou" or "Lily", died at midday today at her home near Uzès in Provence. She was 96. She received the George Medal from the King after the war for her work with the Comet Line.
We had lunch together in Provence 3 years ago and it was clear that she had a streak of determination a mile wide running through her - after all these years.
She loved her 'boys' of the RAF and the USAAF that she led through France and over the Pyrenees (in all weathers) into Spain - and, typical of her modesty, she thought that they were the real heroes, not people like her. She personified the greatest generation.. a life well lived.
RIP Michou.
Here are the two sisters - Andrée (17) and "Michou" (19) - photographed during the war. Both were active in Comet - Andrée was arrested and spent 2 years in Ravensbrück and Mauthausen.
We had lunch together in Provence 3 years ago and it was clear that she had a streak of determination a mile wide running through her - after all these years.
She loved her 'boys' of the RAF and the USAAF that she led through France and over the Pyrenees (in all weathers) into Spain - and, typical of her modesty, she thought that they were the real heroes, not people like her. She personified the greatest generation.. a life well lived.
RIP Michou.
Here are the two sisters - Andrée (17) and "Michou" (19) - photographed during the war. Both were active in Comet - Andrée was arrested and spent 2 years in Ravensbrück and Mauthausen.
Ricardian your #11550
Thanks to you for the link to the news of another of those great ATA ladies passing.
Pity that the news was written so poorly - the plural of aircraft (as most here know) is not "aircrafts" and The Spitfire is not, and never was, a "jet".
I wonder - does this writer work for the modern-day BBC?
OK Grumpy old man rant over!
Ian BB
Thanks to you for the link to the news of another of those great ATA ladies passing.
Pity that the news was written so poorly - the plural of aircraft (as most here know) is not "aircrafts" and The Spitfire is not, and never was, a "jet".
I wonder - does this writer work for the modern-day BBC?
OK Grumpy old man rant over!
Ian BB
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RIP, Madame ... there are not enough words to express thanks, and admiration, for what you did. You crazy brave girl, I salute you!
Sidevalve, very sad news but thank you for informing us of Michou's passing.
Two girls and their bikes, a combination that spelled doom for Nazi tyranny!
RIP Ma'am. I'll be raising a glass to you tonight.
Two girls and their bikes, a combination that spelled doom for Nazi tyranny!
RIP Ma'am. I'll be raising a glass to you tonight.
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I've just heard that the sad news that Aline Dumon, aka "Michou" or "Lily", died at midday today at her home near Uzès in Provence. She was 96. She received the George Medal from the King after the war for her work with the Comet Line.
We had lunch together in Provence 3 years ago and it was clear that she had a streak of determination a mile wide running through her - after all these years.
She loved her 'boys' of the RAF and the USAAF that she led through France and over the Pyrenees (in all weathers) into Spain - and, typical of her modesty, she thought that they were the real heroes, not people like her. She personified the greatest generation.. a life well lived.
RIP Michou.
Here are the two sisters - Andrée (17) and "Michou" (19) - photographed during the war. Both were active in Comet - Andrée was arrested and spent 2 years in Ravensbrück and Mauthausen.
We had lunch together in Provence 3 years ago and it was clear that she had a streak of determination a mile wide running through her - after all these years.
She loved her 'boys' of the RAF and the USAAF that she led through France and over the Pyrenees (in all weathers) into Spain - and, typical of her modesty, she thought that they were the real heroes, not people like her. She personified the greatest generation.. a life well lived.
RIP Michou.
Here are the two sisters - Andrée (17) and "Michou" (19) - photographed during the war. Both were active in Comet - Andrée was arrested and spent 2 years in Ravensbrück and Mauthausen.
ricardian, thanks for the link to The Forces Network piece re Joy Lofthouse, though she deserved better than this abysmal write-up. Any pilot will empathise with those whose job involved taking any type solo, regardless of its size and performance, anywhere within a wartime UK.
Evidently appreciation of the ability of these ATA female pilots was not always that positive, with reception personnel waiting patiently at the foot of the steps for the pilot having made way for a female "helper" who preceded "him".
Checks complete, Captain. RIP.
Evidently appreciation of the ability of these ATA female pilots was not always that positive, with reception personnel waiting patiently at the foot of the steps for the pilot having made way for a female "helper" who preceded "him".
Checks complete, Captain. RIP.
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Both documentaries are on youtube. I will have a dig around and post links to them.
Pierre Ugeux, her late husband had been the president of Formula One (in the 70s I think) and so for a few years she was whizzed around Europe's racetracks living the high life. She remembered Monaco - with the Rainiers - as being something out of a dream. Her house was full of F1 memorabilia - signed steering wheels from the 'greats', crash helmets, photos, all sorts. Plus she was a real charmer.. She told me her one luxury was 2 glasses of rosé every evening.
A very special lady indeed.
If any PPRuNers find themselves in the vicinity of Uzès cathedral next Tuesday afternoon (2.30pm) and would wish to attend the funeral, you'd be most welcome.
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Yes, it really was a privilege.
Pierre Ugeux, her late husband had been the president of Formula One (in the 70s I think) and so for a few years she was whizzed around Europe's racetracks living the high life. She remembered Monaco - with the Rainiers - as being something out of a dream. Her house was full of F1 memorabilia - signed steering wheels from the 'greats', crash helmets, photos, all sorts. Plus she was a real charmer.. She told me her one luxury was 2 glasses of rosé every evening.
A very special lady indeed.
If any PPRuNers find themselves in the vicinity of Uzès cathedral next Tuesday afternoon (2.30pm) and would wish to attend the funeral, you'd be most welcome.
Pierre Ugeux, her late husband had been the president of Formula One (in the 70s I think) and so for a few years she was whizzed around Europe's racetracks living the high life. She remembered Monaco - with the Rainiers - as being something out of a dream. Her house was full of F1 memorabilia - signed steering wheels from the 'greats', crash helmets, photos, all sorts. Plus she was a real charmer.. She told me her one luxury was 2 glasses of rosé every evening.
A very special lady indeed.
If any PPRuNers find themselves in the vicinity of Uzès cathedral next Tuesday afternoon (2.30pm) and would wish to attend the funeral, you'd be most welcome.
This is link of a photograph of her and Pierre Ugeux in uniform during the war.
Last Best Hope: A True Story of Escape, Evasion, and Remembrance